Signal means for automobiles



April 30, 1929. G. H. LEiTNER SIGNAL MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed March 18, 1927 gwuewtoz 5.110: new:

Patented Apr. 38, 1929.

GRANT H. LEE

SIGNAL Application filed March 1 This invention relates to signal devices, but particularly to switches for direction indicating signals tor automobiles.

Objects of this invention are to provide a switch for attachment to a pedal of an automobile, which swi"-'-h is simple in construction, reliable in operation, and the new and improved feat arcs of construction and arrangement hereinafter described.

The invention is shown by way of ii. tion in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the pedal embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an edge view of the pedal; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the pedal with the top plate removed and showing the wiring diagram tor the signals.

The illustrated embodiment oi the invention comprises a pedal having it met at back plate 1 secured to a mounting plate 2 by bolts 3 and nuts l. The mounting plate 2 is integral with tl e pedal lever 5. Fixed to the upper sur'nico of the back plate 1 is a plate member 6 of electrical insulating material, and this plate is held stationary by the bolts Suitably lied. to the insulating plate memher 6' are contact pieces 7, 8 and 9. The contact pieces 7 and 8 are arranged in diametrically opposed relation at opposite sides of the plate member 6, and the contact piece 9 projects outwardly from the lower side of the plate 6, and is disposed in an arcuately shaped recess 10. Extending from the contact pieces 7, 8 and 9 are leads 11, 12 and 13, respectively, and these leads extend through an opening 14L in the back plate 1. As shown, channels are formed in the insulating plate 6 so that the leads are disposed beneath the surface of the plate.

As diagrammatically shown lead 11 extends to a signal 15 marked 11-, the lead 18 extends to a signal 16 marked S. while the lead extends to signal 17 marked L. The letters S, L indicate Right, Stop and Let, i lively, and are for the pi stopping or intention oi or left.

A plate member 18 is formed with in open in; 19 within which the insulating disposed. from the sides of the opening 19. The plate member 18 may be of insulating material, and extending around the opening 19 is a conducting strip 20 connected thereto by tacks 21. The strip 20 is connected by a lead with one side of a battery 28.

.1 cc rposo eit indicating urning to the right L'ZEAL FGR- AUTGliGBEL-ES.

8, 1927. Serial Ho. 176,387.

The plate 18 is slidably and oscillating-1y mounted on the back plate 1, and, as shown 's formed with a projection 2% provided with an elongate opening Disposed within the opening a head 26 of a bolt 27 which extends through the back plate 1 and mounting plate 2, and is hel d in place by a nut 28. 7 cl: igate opening is shouldered to receive the under side of the bolt head 25.

t will be apparent that the member 18 nu be rocl 0d about the bolt 2'? relative to the i .sulhtinp' plate member 6, and also that it may slide relative to the plate member (3, and that when so slid the Contact piece 9 will be brought into engagement witl strip 20 to close the battery circuit with the signal 16.

Rocking; movement of the member 18 to the right 'ngs the contact piece '3' into one grement w 1 the conducting strip 20 for closing the battery circuit with the signal 15, while r iclring movement of the member 18 the left brings the contact piece 8 into engagement with the conducting strip 20 and closes the battery circuit with. the left signal 17.

For normally holding the contact pieces the conducting Lil '4', 8 and 9, out of engagement with the contact strip 20, coiled springs 29 are disposed in s 30 in the insulating plate member 6, and the outer end of each sprinp bears against an annular shouldered member which oxtends into the spring. The diametor of the spring 29 is less than the Sf so that the member 18 may be Qreely relative to the plate 6. ltotatahly emerging the bearing member 82 is a strew 81, which is screwed into the plate 18 with its outer end approximately flush with the edge ot the By means of a screw driver, the screw (it may be adjuster. regulate the tension of the spring 29. The contact strip 20 is in- Julated trom the screw 31 and bearing: meniher 82 b insulating sleeve It will be seen that the springs 29 are arranged on oppositc sides 0: the projecting portion Bet so yieldincgly to resist slidi and rockin move ment in t th he manner described.

Fitting over the top ot the plate member 18 is cover plate 32, iiiiich has upstanding side flanges 83 and is secured to the plate member 18 by screws 3 1. A. rubber pad is preferably secured to the top of the plate to prevent the "foot from slipping; when operating the mechanism.

From the above description, it is manifest lUU that by pushing forward with the foot on the top of the pedal, which is the natural movement when operating the associated pedal, the contact piece 9 is brought into engagement with the conducting strip for ener gizing the stop signal 16. Upon turning the foot to the right, the contact piece 7 is engaged by the conducting strip 20 to energize the right signal 15, and a rocking or turning movement in the opposite direction moves the conducting strip 20 into engagement with the contact piece 8 to energize the left signal .17.

These are natural movements in the operation of the automobile and enable the signaling means to be readily and efficiently handled without additional thought or manipulation on the drivers part.

Vhile I have shown and described a construction which is the best form known to me at the present time, it is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction and arrangement may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch having a pair of members, one member being within the other, contacts on the side edges of respective members, a pivot for one member to permit rocking movement thereof for engaging the contact 011 the side edge of one member with the adjacent contact on the other member.

2. A switch having a pair of relatively rotatable members, one member being within the other, a contact terminal in the outer edge of the inner member, and a contact terminal on the inner edge of the outer member where by relative rocking movement of said members moves said terminals into engagement.

3. A switch comprising a pair of members arranged with one within the other and having relative sliding and rocking movements. two sets of contact terminalscarried by said members respectively, one setbeing engageable upon relative rocking movement of said members and the other set upon relative sliding movement thereof.

f. A switch comprising a pai r of members arranged. with one within the other and having relative sliding and rocking moven'ients, two sets of contact terminals carried by said members respectively, one set being engageable upon relative rocking movement of said members, the other set upon relative sliding movements thereof, and yielding means for normally holding the terminals of said sets out of engagement.

5. A pedal switch for automobiles comprising a plate adapted to be connected to the pedal lover, a. member fixed to said plate having two contact terminals arranged in op posed relation, a member pivoted to s: i plate and disposed within said first member and having opposed contact terminals alternately eng geable respectively with said first terminals when said second member is swung on its pivot, and means for yieldingly holding said second. member in such position that said contact terminals are out of engagement.

6. A pedal switch for automobiles comprising a pair of men'ibers having rclati ve pivotal and sliding movement, one member being adapted to be fixed to the pedal lever, said members being arranged one within the other, contact terminals on opposed sides of said members engageable respectively when relative pivotal movement is imparted to said members, and contact tern'iinals on said members respectively cngageablo when relative sliding movement is in'iparted thereto.

7. A pedal switch for automobiles comprising a pair of members arranged one within the other and having relative crosswise sliding movement, contact terminals on said memhers respectively, and means for yiclrling'ly holding said terminals separated from each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed by name to this specification. 

